Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), along with Macau. It is a cosmopolitan city with a population of 7 million spreads over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, New Territories and over 260 outlying islands. The territory is located on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east, west and south.

Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge (HZMB) Main Bridge

The proposed Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge (HZMB), being situated at the waters of Lingdingyang of Pearl River Estuary, is a large sea crossing linking the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Zhuhai City of Guangdong Province and Macao Special Administrative Region.  It consists of a Main Bridge in Mainland waters together with the boundary crossing facilities and link roads within the three territories.  The functions of the bridge are to meet the demand of passenger and freight land transport among Hong Kong, the Mainland (particularly the region of Pearl River West) and Macao, to establish a new land transport link between the east and west coasts of the Pearl River, and to enhance the economic and sustainable development in the three places.

The HZMB Main Bridge is a 29.6km dual 3-lane carriageway in the form of bridge-cum-tunnel structure comprising an immersed tunnel of about 6.7 km.  According to the current option, It runs from the artificial island off Gongbei of Zhuhai to the eastern artificial island for the tunnel section just west of the HKSAR boundary.

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MTR Train Service

The MTR Corporation was established in 1975 as the Mass Transit Railway Corporation with a mission to construct and operate, under prudent commercial principles, an urban metro system to help meet Hong Kong's public transport requirements. The sole shareholder was the Hong Kong Government.

The Company was re-established as the MTR Corporation Limited in June 2000 after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government sold 23% of its issued share capital to private investors in an Initial Public Offering. MTR Corporation shares were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on 5 October 2000.

The Corporation marked another major milestone on 2 December 2007 when the operations of the other Government-owned rail operator, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, were merged into the MTR, heralding a new era in Hong Kong railway development.

Other than bringing more efficient and competitively-priced services to local rail passengers, the merger brings new growth opportunities to the MTR Corporation's businesses in and outside of Hong Kong.

The merged rail network comprises nine railway lines serving Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. In addition, a Light Rail network serves the local communities of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in the New Territories while a fleet of buses provide convenient feeder services.

The Corporation also operates the Airport Express, a dedicated high-speed link providing the fastest connections to Hong Kong International Airport and the city's newest exhibition and conference centre, AsiaWorld-Expo.

From Hong Kong, passengers can travel with ease to Guangdong Province, Beijing and Shanghai in the Mainland of China using the MTR's intercity railway services.

more > MTR Offical Website

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Star Ferry

Most notable of all is the humble but legendary "Star" Ferry service between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island from piers in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central and Wan Chai on the Island. It offers a memorable and scenic boat trip across one of the most-photographed harbours in the world for just HK$2.2 to $5.3 for the upper deck, depending on the route.

Star Ferry Schedule  more > Star Ferry Official Website

Communication Diseases:

SARS

SARS is predominantly transmitted through close person-to-person contact, especially via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplet spread can take place when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled a short distance and deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons who are nearby. The virus can also spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches his or her mouth, nose, or eyes.

Prevention

Wash hands frequently:
* Before touching eyes, nose and mouth, if there is a need to do so;
* Before handling food or eating;
* After handling objects soiled by faeces, respiratory or other body secretions;
* After going to the toilet;
* After touching public installations or equipment, such as escalator handrails, elevator control panels or door knobs.

Rub hands with a 65-95% alcohol solution to disinfect them when hand washing facilities are not available.

Centre for Health Protection Strategic Plan on Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases 2007-2009

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection commonly seen in infants and children. It is usually caused by a group of viruses called enteroviruses. The most common causative agent is coxsackie virus A. Enterovirus 71 (EV 71) is also one of the causative agents for HFMD. Individual cases and outbreaks occur worldwide, more frequently in summer and early autumn.

Mode of transmission
HFMD is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons (who may be asymptomatic). The illness is contagious during the acute stage and perhaps longer, as faecal shedding of virus can be detected for several weeks.

Clinical features
The main symptoms of HFMD are fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. Usually it begins with fever, poor appetite, malaise and sore throat. One to two days later, painful sores develop in the mouth. The sores are characterised by small red spots with blisters which then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. The non-itchy skin rash manifests as flat or raised red spots. The rash is usually found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Complications are very rare, but it may be associated with viral meningitis. Rarely, EV71 may cause more serious diseases, such as encephalitis, or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis.

Prevention
Good hygienic practices are the most important measures to prevent HFMD. Strict personal hygiene should be observed by frequent handwashing, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoidance of close contact with HFMD patients. Moreover, the risk of infection can be lowered by good environmental hygiene. It includes cleaning of contaminated surfaces and soiled items, and maintaining good indoor ventilation. Children with HFMD should be excluded from schools or any group settings until fever has subsided and all the vesicular lesions have dried and crusted. This measure could help reduce the transmission of infection amongst children.

more > health protection information